This is the 3754th most frequent Spanish word.
protegidos
Protected or sheltered.
The word 'protegidos' functions as an adjective describing the state of 'los documentos', indicating they are safeguarded by a mechanism.
Los documentos están protegidos con una contraseña.
The documents are protected with a password.
Here 'protegidos' serves as an adjective describing 'los derechos de los trabajadores', showing they need safeguarding, often in a legal or ethical sense.
Es importante que los derechos de los trabajadores estén protegidos.
It is important that the workers' rights are protected.
In this sentence, 'protegidos' acts as a past participle used adjectivally to modify 'los animales', specifying that their protection results from legal provisions.